Posted on 11/02/2006 11:49:56 PM PST by MadIvan
A Muslim student has been prevented from getting on a bus because she would not remove her veil.
The 22-year-old woman, who does not want to be identified, said yesterday that other passengers laughed when the driver refused to let her board.
He said he took the action because without her lifting her veil he could not check her features against those on her bus pass.
The student, who is studying at Manchester University, had been trying to board a No 59 bus in Oldham, Greater Manchester. She said the driver initially asked to see her pass. Having glanced at it, he then asked her to lift her veil so he could see her face.
"I told him I would not remove my veil and he said I couldn't get on."
She added: "The veil is my choice and my religious duty." The student is now offering to help the driver's employers, First Manchester, draw up guidelines for staff.
A First Manchester spokesman said: "We have investigated this incident thoroughly but found no complaint on our system."
I agree with you that the veil isn't a religious requirement. But, I very much doubt that having tatoos denoting tribes/family is or was the only reason to wear the veil.
Post #16.
A First Manchester spokesman said: "We have investigated this incident thoroughly but found no complaint on our system."
Stand firm, don't back down.
Get a camel.
Totally agree.
Why isn't she at home, getting beaten up? And not driving?
Public shaming, like a public hanging, is a great teacher.
Face tattos are like a passport for them, and denotes their status in society; some men might be embarassed that their wifes are not 'well off", the veil covers this personal information.
Is it true? I do not know, but that what I was told in this part of the world
"...other passengers laughed when the driver refused to let her board."
I particularly liked this part. 'snicker'
Oh, I wasn't disagreeing with that. I believe it to be true for certain 'Arab' countries. It applies to some Kurds and Afghans too. Was only suggesting that it isn't the only reason. I also lived in a ME country decades ago, though I'm not a muslim.
Apart from the historical basis I mentioned in post #16, the veil, generally, is seen as a "protective cover" for women and for a few reasons. One significant reason being the sexuality element. Of course, I also understand that 'walking in a sack' e.g. a Burka, wasn't originally advocated - it is more of a recent invention by muslim clerics (not an original 7th Century thing).
Women in certain ME countries, of non-Arab ethnic origins, certainly do not have tatoos or visible signs which could identify their ancestry or socio-economic status, yet they must wear the veil and, in a sense, are even socialized and cajoled into wearing it. Personally, I think it has a very strong cultural component as how a muslim society views a woman, her sexuality & her third class status.
Same situation in Thailand. I live in a Muslim area and head scarves are not uncommon but veils are very rare. I don't live in the deep south where the extremists/terrorists are, but see the area on TV often, and there also, veils are very rare, but the men all wear the Muslim cap and women, scarves. Here though, I doubt a woman would be challenged if she was wearing one.
Regarding the supposed 'hype' on FR, it looks like your Prime Minister is the source of it. Spain's prime minister has vowed an all-out campaign to stop illegal immigration to his country from Africa.
Ditto to Mad Ivan - always posts interesting stuff!
Thanks for reporting on the war. She will probably be back.
Good point Ivan!
ping
Muslim religious experts have confirmed there is no such duty required by the Koran. This is fundamentalism and must be completely banned throughout the West. Frankly, it is for their own good. Someone has to yank these people out of the dark ages.
Get to stepping!
In other words, take a hike.
If she was traveling alone in public with no husband, brother or father, shouldn't she be stoned to death anyway?
I'd bet she was using someone else's bus pass.
lol..perhaps!
I don't take the bus very often in Australia. But, in Australia and as far as I know, we don't have a photo id on bus passes anyway...
Sounds like they've found an issue to crystalize all the irritation at what's going on around....all them radical Islamic chicks...
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